Mary Ann Barnes Leaving San Diego Post for New Role With Kaiser

Mary Ann Barnes, executive director of Kaiser Permanente San Diego, is taking a new role at the health system – she’s been named regional president of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Region.

Barnes will oversee a network of about 230,000 members in Hawaii. The new title is effective immediately, and Barnes will transition to the role full-time in June. Though Barnes’ successor has yet to be named, the health system is undergoing an extensive search process and expects to announce a new executive director of Kaiser Permanente San Diego by June, a spokesman for Kaiser said.

Barnes has been with Kaiser for about 30 years, and since 2009 has overseen the system’s 528,000 members in San Diego County. She’ll replace Janet Liang, who will be promoted to chief operating officer for Kaiser’s Northern California Region.

Benjamin Chu, Kaiser’s Southern California regional president, said in a statement that Barnes’ “outstanding work” that includes “extensive knowledge, skills and patient-centric focus” have helped strengthen the health system’s position in the San Diego market.